Coraline or Cyano

Hi peeps. My question as a layman in this hobby is how do I differentiate between cyano and coraline. I have this red growth on my rocks and glass and I am not sure what it is. I am busy treating my tank for GHA and in the last week I can see definite improvements ie good reduction in volume. However I am not sure what the red stuff is. Would appreciate any help.

Hi Manta..easy way to distinguish coraline is quite hard (also comes in various colours from neon green to dark pink / purple). Good ! But does chouw your calcium !

As for cayno...its normally soft, slimy and if left creates "strings" , this is normally from bas water params (especially phosphates). Not sure about your tank but if you are having GHA issues my best bet would be that you have an issue or two, how is your feeding regime, lights (old lights can cause this) flow etc

270l 1200X450X500.
Wet/Dry - This is incorrect type - Came off a fresh water tank. Did not know this at the time when I bought it. One chamber filled with bio balls. Next with charcoal. I have fitted a coil denitrator.(running for about two weeks now)

I have started with phosphate reduction additives this has greatly helped in GHA reduction.

Lights I have FL tubes X 2.
One marine blue and cool white ( after reading through this forum it is more than like not enough).

Tested water parameters tonight and everything is within tolerances.

This is what the red stuff looks like. It is very hard and to get it off the glass really needs some hard scraping. As mentioned earlier in this thread I am getting my GHA under control. I am still seriously considering whether I should start this tank all over again as all my filtration is incorrect. I am spending the next couple of months slowly taking the incorrect filtration out without causing too much stress on the LS.

Oh yes LS. I have two nemo's and two damzels. Also three very small hermit crabs and a turbo snail. Feeding is done once a day a minimal amount. Difficult to quantify but really a pinch between thumb and index finger.

Manta thats coralline (good stuff ). They out compete other algae for "food" in the water collum and can itself be food for certain critters.

To remove it from the glass use a window scraper.....or get a tuxedo urchin. Just keep fighting the "green monster" by keeping your parameters in check, aggressive skimming etc. You could also consider adding a lawnmower blennie